PHILIPSBURG:--- The Police Force of Sint Maarten (KPSM) hosted a high-level coordination meeting on Thursday, June 18, 2026, at the Philipsburg Police Station, bringing together representatives from KPSM, Immigration and Border Protection Services, Customs, and other personnel within the Ministry of Justice.

The session focused on developing joint strategies, improving information sharing, and identifying areas where combined enforcement and investigative efforts can yield more effective results. Particular attention was given to joint operations, coordinated enforcement actions, information sharing, and investigations that can benefit from a multi-agency approach.

The management teams agreed that the challenges facing the community today require a united response from all relevant authorities. By combining resources, expertise, and operational capabilities, the various departments can better address public safety, border security, crime prevention, and compliance with local laws and regulations.

These coordination meetings will continue regularly to develop strategies, establish priorities, and ensure a unified approach to protecting the people of Sint Maarten. KPSM remains committed to working closely with all justice partners to promote a safer and more secure Sint Maarten for all residents and visitors.

~Road closed after another rider rushed to hospital; Mounting death toll raises urgent questions~

PHILIPSBURG:---  Just one day after a scooter rider was critically injured in an accident near Flow and the Old Post Office parking lot, another serious scooter crash occurred Thursday on Pondfill Road in the vicinity of the Central Bank and the Flow alley, sending yet another rider to the hospital and forcing police to temporarily close one of the island's busiest roads.

The latest accident has intensified growing concerns about the alarming number of scooter-related incidents that continue to plague St. Maarten's roadways.

On Wednesday, a scooter rider ended up trapped beneath a bus following a collision near the Old Post Office area. Emergency personnel rushed to the scene and transported the injured rider to the hospital. Less than 24 hours later, another scooter rider was seriously injured in a separate crash on Pondfill Road.

The back-to-back accidents come at a particularly painful time for the community. On Thursday, families and friends were laying to rest two scooter riders who lost their lives in separate incidents approximately one week ago. Their funerals served as a heartbreaking reminder of the human cost associated with the ongoing scooter crisis.

The repeated accidents are placing increasing pressure on the St. Maarten Police Force (KPSM), which has long struggled with staffing shortages. Police officers are routinely called upon to respond to traffic collisions, conduct investigations, manage traffic disruptions, and enforce road safety regulations, all while operating with limited personnel.

Authorities have repeatedly voiced concerns about a group of scooter riders estimated to number around 60 individuals who are frequently seen engaging in reckless behavior on public roads. The challenge of monitoring and controlling these riders has become increasingly difficult for the already overstretched police force.

The consequences extend far beyond the accident scenes. Families are left devastated, emergency services are strained, businesses are disrupted by road closures, and the wider community continues to bear the emotional and financial burden of these incidents.

Thursday's road closure on Pondfill Road once again highlighted how a single accident can impact hundreds of motorists and residents. Traffic was backed up as police secured the area and emergency responders attended to the injured rider.

As the number of scooter-related accidents continues to rise, many residents are calling for stronger enforcement measures, stricter regulations, and greater accountability from riders who endanger themselves and others.

For grieving families, however, the debate comes too late. They are left mourning loved ones whose lives ended tragically on the very roads that continue to witness accident after accident.

The question now facing authorities and the community alike is how many more injuries and fatalities will occur before meaningful action is taken to bring the situation under control.

PHILIPSBURG:--- Each year, teachers and non-teaching staff of public and subsidized schools count on receiving their vacation allowance. For many families, this payment helps cover planned expenses, family obligations, and much-needed time to rest and recharge after a demanding school year. It is not a bonus, a favor, or an unexpected benefit. It is a legal entitlement.

Pursuant to the relevant provisions governing vacation allowance, including Article 24 of the ordinance regulating vacation, vacation allowance and exemption from duty for civil servants and teachers, vacation allowance is to be paid once per calendar year in the second half of June.

While the law allows payment at any point in the second half of June, that does not diminish the expectation that a responsible employer be fully prepared to make this payment as early as possible within that period. Vacation allowance is a known and recurring obligation. It should be properly budgeted, calculated, requested, and followed up well in advance.

Yet once again, the Board of Charlotte Brookson Academy of the Performing Arts appears to have failed to ensure that its staff receive this payment when many had reasonably anticipated.

For teachers and support staff who have spent the year educating, guiding, and caring for students, this situation creates unnecessary stress and uncertainty. Employees should be able to rely on their employer to meet its financial obligations without last-minute confusion or unclear explanations.

According to information received, staff were allegedly notified on Monday, June 15, that no funds had yet been deposited for vacation allowance and that the board was actively monitoring the situation. By Tuesday, staff were reportedly informed that the board was in a meeting with Finance because CBA had allegedly not been receiving the correct amount for the last few months.

WITU finds this deeply troubling.

Let us be clear: WITU is of the view that responsibility rests squarely with CBA. As the employer and school board, CBA is responsible for ensuring that the correct calculations are submitted in a timely manner so that the appropriate subsidy can be received to meet its financial obligations to staff. Any discrepancy in subsidy amounts should have been identified, addressed, and followed up on long before the vacation allowance payment period arrived.

Based on the information brought to WITU’s attention, serious questions arise about CBA’s planning, calculations, submissions, and follow-up. A responsible employer should not reach the payment period while still addressing issues related to the correct subsidy amount. Teachers and non-teaching staff should not bear the consequences of administrative shortcomings, inaccurate calculations, delayed submissions, or inadequate follow-up. Those responsibilities belong to CBA.

The issue extends beyond a possible delayed payment. It reflects what appears to be a recurring pattern that leaves employees frustrated and uncertain. Year after year, staff are confronted with the same concerns, the same questions, and the same lack of reassurance. This repeated uncertainty undermines confidence and places unnecessary strain on hardworking professionals who deserve stability and respect.

At a time when educators are already facing increasing demands and pressures, the last thing they should have to worry about is whether their employer will meet its basic financial obligations. This concern must also be viewed against the broader background of other unresolved staff matters, including reports that CBA staff are dealing with issues regarding their registration in the APS pension plan, while pension contributions are allegedly being deducted from their salaries. Respect for teachers and school staff is demonstrated not only through words but through actions. Paying employees accurately, on time, and ensuring that all deducted contributions are properly accounted for are among the most fundamental responsibilities of any employer.

WITU therefore calls on the CBA Board to immediately provide staff with a clear written explanation outlining the status of the vacation allowance, the date the issue was first identified, the actions taken to resolve it, and the exact date on which staff will receive their payment.

CBA staff deserve certainty. They deserve accountability. Most importantly, they deserve to be treated with the respect and dignity owed to the dedicated professionals who continue to serve our schools, support our students, and strengthen our communities.

PHILIPSBURG:--- The screening of justice personnel is a measure designed to promote integrity within organizations. In its recently published report, the Law Enforcement Council concludes that the manner in which (potential) justice personnel are screened or re-screened does not always comply with applicable laws and regulations. Its inspection reveals that although all organizations require at least a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) for an appointment in accordance with the law, certain organizations deviate from existing screening procedures. Furthermore, mandatory security screenings are not always conducted (in a timely manner) by a number of organizations. This entails risks.

VOGs and security screenings

Integrity within the justice sector is of great importance. Employees work with sensitive information, and citizens must be able to trust that this is handled carefully and reliably. For this reason, the Council assessed the status of screening and re-screening of personnel within the justice sector. The Council specifically examined the VOG and security screenings.

Although the process for the Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is in place, the Council notes that some organizations question its added value due to the type of data on which it is currently based. As a result, some organizations are deviating from existing screening procedures and taking a creative approach to gain more insight into applicants’ backgrounds, for example, by making informal inquiries within their own networks. This is because the investigation is limited to the procedure of requesting criminal records, even though legislation, regulations, and policies allow for greater flexibility in gathering information, including police records.

While the Council can somewhat understand that organizations devise solutions in practice to obtain more relevant information given the potential risks, the Council believes that this also entails the necessary (integrity) risks for the organization. Even though a number of organizations argue that the absence of the aforementioned data is perceived as unacceptable due to the potential security and integrity risks they face, organizations — just like everyone else— must comply with the law. The Council further notes that the sharing of data within the Kingdom for the issuance of a Certificate of Good Conduct (VOG) is not yet properly regulated by law.

A security screening is mandatory for specific positions. The screening can only be conducted if a position has been officially designated as a so-called position of confidence. However, due to changes in job descriptions and the lack of formal designations, some security screenings cannot currently be carried out. Furthermore, security screenings are not always repeated every five years, even though the law requires this. Here too, the Council highlights the resulting risks.

Urging action

The Council believes that action must be taken as soon as possible to ensure that a number of organizations are in compliance with the law. These are specifically the Coast Guard, the IGD, and the KPSM. This is to ensure that their personnel can undergo a (repeat) security screening, where necessary, and in accordance with the law. In addition, the designation of confidential positions for the Coast Guard has yet to take place.

To achieve the necessary improvements, the Council has made four concrete recommendations to better safeguard the integrity and reliability of justice personnel.

Council website 

The full inspection report and all other publications of the Council are available digitally on the website: https://www.raadrh.com/